LADY ASTOR, M.P.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18184, 22 September 1924, Page 6

LADY ASTOR, M.P.

A PORTRAIT AND A PROTEST. PAINTING AT WESTMINSTER. | t raoa OTE O*S ceiassrosaiyT.; LONDON, August i'. Considerable controversy lias been caused at West mi aster by tbo erpcaranco of a iife-fi-'c iwiulinj b " Charles Sims, K.A.. of Lady Astor whh her sponsor?, Lord Balfour and Mr ! Llovd George., on the grand e» airea.se |of the House of Commons. The scene depicted is that of her "introduction in the House as + te member to take the oath and' her goaf.. Indeed the controversy has developed into'a memorial -to the Prime Minister, signed bv between l.>o and 200 members belongs io .'-II thr?c Turtles, a slurs that "the s.-n~c of l'arhamcut shoum be taken i" the matt.-r." On the subjcc-t bcuis t.ic First Commissioner of Works under! qok to ascertain the general .opinion ot members before coming If J. Una. decision as io v/be'ber th? picture anouid be permanently installed or not. Tn^ painting tills a panel on the wall of the staircase. v.hich leads to the committee corridor, and if it should be accepted bv the.authorities of the House this would, be the position it would occupv. Although within a few yards of the central hall, where the public wait daily in considerable numbers to meet members, the place in whii.h the picture is temporarily hung 13 not one of particular prominence. People having business in the committee corridor will see'the picture on the right-hand side as they ascend the ■ staircase, and a.few steps" higher up they can inspect on the opposite wall the fine painting of Queen Elizabeth receiving a. petition from the Commons. Great numbers of sightseers visit the Palace of Westminster every morning at. this season of the. year, and yesterday many of them specially asked to be directed to the place where the "Lady Astor picture" is on view. What the final decision concerning the disposition of the picture will be is a. matter ot pure speculation.

"Not Finally" Huns. Mr T. Johnston (Lab.-Soc., Stirling) a.sked the First Commissioner of Works if ho.could say .when and by whom the decision was taken to place a painting of tho introduction into the House ot the honourable member for the Sutton Division of Plymouth on the walls of this House; and if ho would take the sense of the members of the House on the subject before the project was further proceeded with. Mr B. Clarry (C., Newport) _ also asked upon whoso authority the picture was hung. , . Mr Jowett (First Commissioner _ot Works), answering both questions, said: The decision referred to was given by my predecessor in June of last but having regard to the numerous objections received from members of all parties, I cannot consent to its being linally hung without further expressions of approval.. I propose to have the picture temporarily in position until I have had a further opportunity of ascertaining the general opinion of 1 members. j Mr T. Johnstoii: Can the right hon. gentlemen say whether ho will, give tho House an early opportunity of showing its opinion upon this project, aud it that opportunity, will be given beforo wo rise for the recess? Mr Jowett: Tho 'question should be put to tho Prime-Minister.. Mr F. Linfield (L., Beds, Mid.l: May I ask if tho right hon. gentleman will' consider tho views of many thousands of | women in this country? (Cheers.) Sir J. Baird (U., Ayr Burglis): As tho picture was put up after you, Mr Speaker, and'l'had consulted as to the desirability of commemorating what appeared to both of us to be a, very important. point in the development of our 'national institutions, may I ask tho right hon. gentleman if he will take steps to seo that full time is given to tho consideration of this'question, and that it is not' decided in consequence of prejudice and in haste? Mr Jowett: I indicated I would give time in my original reply. ' Mr Spencer (Lab.-Soc., Broxtowe): Is not the opposition due to the fact that the lad v is an •American instead of being English? Mr Kirk wood (Lab.-Soc., Dumbarton) : Is it not due to the fact that she is not' the first lady member? ' The Countess Markiericz was.

Mr Foot (L., Bodmin). Will the right lion, gentleman haver regard to the fact that there is already in St. Stephen's Hall a picture which docs depict, certain living statesmen and politicians? An Hon. Member: Rubbish; that is a different-consideration altogether.

Mr Jowett.: All relevant facts will- be taken into account.

Mr Johnston: May I press the Prime Minister very respectfully for an answer to the question I put "to hin:—whether facilities will''bo given before the; recces y Mr Mac Donald : Obviously ■ this is a matter, which ought to be dealt with in the most decent nnd proper way possible. (Cheers.) We will do our best to do that. Lady Astor "Indifferent." In the course of an interview given at Plymouth Lady Astor is reported as saying: "It is a matter of indifference to me whether they decide to keep the portrait there or not. I didn't ssk it to lie put there. My husband thought of it, and talked to the Speaker at the time. They had arranged it before T had tliouglrt of it. I believe the women of the country would like it to be there." .She added that there seemed to be what she might, term ;i little of the personal element In the matter.

Criticism of Inaccurate Detail. On artistic grounds the work meets with much criticise:,- and it is pointed out fluit there -are inyccurucies in tho detail?. A strong beam of sunlight ■streams through iho windows, though flic introduction "f Lady Attor took place at about four o'clock on a December afternoon, and some well-known members arc represented as sitting in places they never occupied in the House. The Government, as such, has no authority over the building, which is vested in* the Lord Great Chamberlaii:, tho Marquess of Lifieon]f-Jiir<\ Tt is ashamed, therefore, that be gave permission for the picture to- be placed where it now is. Apparently the fixture is but temporary, for there is only a small wooden frame round it. and there seems to be no space for any inscription. The "Daily Telegraph" holds the view that ; ' in itself the opposition to .the acceptance of this painting must be. called not a litfJo ungracious. Whatever c.nr political ■ opinions, however stubbornly seme may have opposed the en/ranchisemeiit of women, however keenly others may-have regretted that the first woman who voted in the House of Common 1 ' went into the Lnionist lobbv, we must 3'il admit that (he entry of that lady to the House was an event of historic" importance. It proclaimed the final and conclusive victory of those who had for long contended- that in tlie matter of political rights men

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women num be equal. If marked the beginning of :j new development of the ancient. institution 3 of British governTo pretend that ?uch .-in dent is of 1:0 particular significance is idle. It was the end of a great sfruggln and the beginning of a new order "of things in our Parliameatarv life and our public affaij;.-. Therefore it was an incident conspicuously worthy of record on the trails of the Houses' of Parliament. That the ladv to whom the chief part in it fell has since proved herself a member the House of Commons of vivacious abilif- and untiring cnergv was a piece of good fortune for the new oraer or thmgs and its friends. Women may' m-cU congratulate themselves that the first representative of their bcx at Westminster was ovc so well able to hold her own and of so eager a public spirit as Lady Astor. But the matter is not personal, and ought- not so to be treated." In a statement to-dav, Lord Astor sap that Ladv Astor, far from having tried to 101st upon Parliament a picture of herself, had nothing to do with the and vras, when originally told of .the prcrDosal, raihex against it»